WAR ON WOMEN

35 percent of women worldwide, more than one in three, said they had experienced physical violence in their lifetime.

-The United Nations report on Violence toward Women

The War on Women

Throughout the world, the incidences of violence against women are increasing at alarming levels. The United Nations estimates as many as 200 million women and girls will be the victim of violence in 2015. This disturbing trend crosses socio-economic boundaries and is found in industrialized and developing nations. Poverty, ignorance, cultural beliefs and history are but some of the contributing factors in how societies treat women. In some countries, centuries-old traditions and government policies dictate the ongoing struggle to be female.

Shooting on location throughout the U.S., The War on Women explores the issue through personal stories told by women who have been affected violence and abuse with candid descriptions of their experiences and how it has affected their lives.

It asks why.

Why in a modern world is this happening?

Why does it seem that relatively little is being done?

What larger societal issues are at play?

Global experts and activists put the stories in context and advocate paths toward change while collectively lamenting the lack of long-term effective action against this crisis.

While one film can't provide all of the answers, The War on Women aims to be a conversation starter to encourage discussion, learning and reflection. The overarching themes to be explored throughout the film include :

•What are the root causes of this increasing epidemic?

•What steps are being taken to improve conditions for women who are most vulnerable?

•What does this say about our society and what are the ramifications for the future?

•How does violence against women affect communities and society as a whole?

•What steps being taken by individuals and organizations to improve the condition?

We'll meet organizations and individuals involved in solving the issue, through education, outreach and intervention, providing an inspiring story of hope for the future. Perspectives from both women and men provide unique points of view with a domestic and international perspective.

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Why is this subject important?

Through 15 years of documenting humanitarian issues, we have discovered the issue of violence toward women at the core of much of the suffering. The topic and possible solutions need to be discussed, debated and mitigated to consider ourselves a truly evolved race whose ability to do well by other human beings outweighs the need for violence and destruction. Our future as a species may well depend on it.

Why is P2P qualified to tell this important story?

Traveling with international aid organizations for over 15 years, P2P/NDP has documented humanitarian issues throughout the developing world where the most vulnerable, women and children, bear the burden of poverty and violence. But one needs look no further than every community in the United States to find abused women, runaway girls - exploitation, violence. Our goal is to explore this issue in a comprehensive report. Part investigative journalism, part documentary storytelling, this is more than a cause-related media project. This is a call to action and an effort to bring positive change to an issue that affects each and every one of us.

This Documentary is fiscally sponsored project of the International Documentary Association (IDA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are payable to the IDA and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.